What draws our attention? Haunts our thoughts? Causes us to obsess?
Garry Winogrand said, “I photograph to see what things look like photographed.”
So artists create to see what people, places, things and events look like when photographed; in color or in black and white; under infrared light or ultraviolet light; when drawn with graphite or pen and ink; when painted with water colors or oil paints; when sculpted in clay or chiseled in stone; when described in poetry or prose. Yes. Though this doesn’t address the feelings aroused while creating; or the feelings of the viewer or reader when they encounter a work of art.
A subject calls to us and becomes an object of our attention; haunting our thoughts. What is it about that corn field across the street. Or is it the two tree lines that call to me? Is it the “greens?” Or is it the textures? How would it look if I used the M8 and deep infrared filter? The answer can only be found by walking into the light, morning mist, with camera on tripod, because the filter is damn near black; and exposures will be long. Feeling the mist on my face; and gratitude for this life in this place.
Wow. Look at that cattail.
I love that the cattail grew up near the mail box;
between my front porch and that corn field;
and those tree lines.
Do we obsess on love?
or the lover?
as the object of our attention.
I think it’s the loving
the seeing, and feeling
that we need to do.
While the choice of lover
or where we point our camera
matters little. As long as we immerse ourselves
in seeing, listening, tasting, smelling, feeling
and loving completely.
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M8, 35 mm Summilux Asph + B+W 093 IR
